Sanitary throwaway refuse container

ABSTRACT

A throwaway refuse container that is foldable, to be provided originally in a small flat package, said flat package easily opened to be formed into a preformed shape having a hollow body and a top and bottom as well as a special top with a pivotal lid. The refuse container is provided with a plastic bag liner that is retained in said hollow body by hanging the upper edge of said bag over the top edge of said container and clamping it in this position with the pivotally opened top. When the refuse container is filled, the special top is removed and the bag may be tied and the regular flat top inserted making the container an enclosed sealed throwaway package.

United States Patent 3,115,986 12/1963 Groff Carlos Souza 530 Line Road, llazJet, NJ. 07730 889,032

Dec. 30, 1969 Jan. 4, 1972 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SANITARY THROWAWAY REFUSE CONTAINER Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert AttorneyHoward T. Jeandron ABSTRACT: A throwaway refuse container that is foldable, to be provided originally in a small flat package, said flat package easily opened to be formed into a preformed shape having a hollow body and a top and bottom as well as a special top with a pivotal lid. The refuse container is provided with a plastic bag liner that is retained in said hollow body by hanging the upper edge of said bag over the top edge of said container and clamping it in this position with the pivotally opened top. When the refuse container is filled, the special top is removed and the bag may be tied and the regular flat top inserted making the container an enclosed sealed throwaway package.

PATENIED m we 3.632.033

SHEET 1 UF 2 IN VEN TOR.

CARLUS SUZ/ZA MVMW , ABE/V r PATENTEDM 4 1972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. CAHLUS Sal/2A AAWJ AEsA/r SANITARY TI-IROWAWAY REFUSE CONTAINER This invention relates to a refuse or garbage collection or retaining system. More particularly, it relates to the improved utilization of throwaway, strong, foldable containers with bag liners in the gathering of litter of all kinds through the provision of a simple, but novel and inventive manipulation of the container with a permanent top.

It is known to use paper bags of varying sizes in the home to contain garbage or like materials. It is also known to use larger, multiwall paper bags for this purpose outside the home and in industry. But heretofore, no one has come forward with a simple, economical, easily operable and disposable, but dogand rodent-proof container, or at least discouraging, means for retaining the bags while in use and before the collector arrives and for holding them erect and easily accessible during such period. Accordingly, housewives have not been able to make use of the bags, so as to rid themselves of smelly garbage and corroded garbage cans, and villages, towns and cities have not been able to make use of them so as to transport the gar bage.

It is an object of this invention to supply a simple, inexpensive foldable corrugated paper board container which may hold a plastic bag and requiring almost no skill to set up for use and it overcomes the various problems that occur with garbage disposal and transportation.

Further objects of this invention shall be apparent by reference to the accompanying detailed description and the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a folded corrugated cardboard box,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box opened for forming,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a formed box with the top open,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plastic bag insert,

FIG. -5 is a perspective view of the top to be fitted to the box,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the swinging lid for the top,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the complete container,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cardboard insert for the box,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the throwaway box closed for disposal,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the box,

FIG. 11 is an end view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 10 formed with both ends open,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the box of FIG. 10 with one end open,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the complete container with a liner and top,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the throwaway box closed for disposal,

FIG. 16 is a further embodiment of the container in a barrelshaped fonn,

FIG. 17 is a special circular top for the container of FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 is a circular lid for the barrel-shaped container of FIG. 16, and

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a further embodiment illustrating a many-sided container.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 through 8 there is illustrated a sanitary throwaway refuse container in the varying steps of formation and ultimate use. Refuse containers are usually formed of a rigid material for permanent use and become smelly and corroded and a nuisance for handling and during pickup by the garbage collection agency. Thus various attempts have been made to simplify the disposal of garbage such as the use of plastic bags which are inserted into garbage cans and thus the garbage can must still be handled for the dumping or removal of the plastic bag and contents and of course the handling of the plastic bags results in many fractures and spilling of the refuse. To overcome these difficulties, this invention illustrates a refuse container that is primarily a throwaway corrugated cardboard box 10. In use the corrugated cardboard box as illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided in a folded flat fonn for shipment and storage. The box 10 in this instance is not a standard box but rather is a specially formed box in which the sides of the box, that is, front, back and both sides are provided with small apertures II and the top and bottom are provided with small matching mating tabs 12. The box 10, when received by the housewife or user, is first opened as illustrated in FIG. 2 to its natural form. The bottom 14 of the box 10 is next folded into a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the tabs 12 will be projecting through the apertures 11 to retain the bottom in the desired position. The top 15 is then folded outward and down to align with the back of the box 10. A plastic bag 16 as illustrated in FIG. 4 is inserted into box 10 and the bag being larger in horizontal length than the box, the upper edges of the bag are turned over the upper edge of the box. With the plastic bag 16 mounted within box 10, referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a top 17 which may be comprised of a corrugated board material sprayed or treated to be impervious to fluids or liquids or vapor, or the top may be formed of a rigid plastic, the top I7 being a complete or continuous rectangular base I8 with an open bottom and two ends 19 that may be triangular in form so that at the apex of the triangle, a cutout 20 may be provided and a rod 21 mounted across the top resting in the cutout portions 20. This top is then inserted on the top of box 10 so that the base 18 fits over the lapped edges of bag 16 and snugly fits the periphery of box 10 thus retaining bag 16 to prevent it from being pulled downward into box 10 by any refuse thrown into box 10. With the top 17 in position on box 10, a more attractive-appearing cover may be provided by adding the swinging lid 25 illustrated in FIG. 6. The swinging lid 25 simply being a piece of rectangular corrugated cardboard folded at its center and being of a width to fit the aperture between the sides 19 and retained in spaced folded relationship by a pair of pins 25A. With the lid resting upon rod 21, the edges 26 and 27 should clear or just about meet the upper edges of base 18 permitting the lid to be rocked or tilted from either side to permit throwing refuse into the container 10. The complete combination of the parts described as illustrated in FIG. 7 provides a completely sealed refuse container for home use that is easily moved about or positioned in an accessible place for normal use. This refuse container is not intended to be retained for an indefinite period but rather is intended for daily use or for an extended period of two or three days before being disposed of. Thus it does not absorb and retain any undesirable odors that may permeate the living quarters. The box 10 is usually of a hard finish on the outside and will stand a great deal of handling without falling apart or causing any disastrous condition within the home while in use. An additional safety insert is illustrated in FIG. 8 being a flat piece of cardboard that exactly fits the base of the container l0 and provides a reinforcing to the base to increase the carrying load of the refuse thrown into container 10. When the refuse container has been filled and never overfilled, the top 17 is removed and if desirable, that is, if the garbage is of a fluid or wet or undesirable smelly condition, the top of bag 16 may be gathered and tied to seal the contents of bag 16. If the top is made of corrugated cardboard, it may be collapsed and inserted into container 10. The top lid 15 of box 10 is then brought into a closed position and locked in that position by the tabs 12 as illustrated in FIG. 9 and the box 10 is then ready to be disposed of, that is, put out for garbage collection and it will retain the refuse or garbage entirely enclosed to prevent any undesirable affects within the home or outside the home. The box is also provided with two apertures 11A, one on either side of box 10 to provide a pair of gripping apertures or a handle may be inserted in these apertures. It also provides the type of refuse container where two or more containers are easily stacked for collection.

Although cardboard boxes used as containers may be obtained in various sizes and may be cut or formed into particular configurations that vary from the standard box as described in the previous embodiment, this invention shall include the use of a standard corrugated cardboard box 10A as illustrated in FIG. 10 in its flat folded formation. The box when folded is easily stacked with a great number of boxes for shipment and storage. As FIG. 11 illustrates, the thickness of the folded box is exceptionally small permitting the shipment of a great many of these boxes in normal shipping containers or vehicles. The standard box 10A as illustrated in FIG. 12 is opened to be formed for normal use. As illustrated in. FIG. 13, the base of the box is folded into a closed locked relationship, that is, with the end flaps numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the bottom. All of the flaps of the bottom are to be turned inward. However half of each flap must be positioned in a locked relationship. Therefore half of the flap 2 will be folded over flap 1, half of the flap 3 will be folded over flap 2 and half of the flap 4 will be under flap 1 but over flap 3. This is the normal manner of folding all standard cardboard boxes to retain the bottom or top in a sealed relation for handling and shipment. With the bottom closed as shown in FIG. 13, an insert as illustrated in FIG. 8 may be dropped in the box 10A thus to reinforce the bottom and permit the box to carry a greater load. With a plastic bag as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the previous embodiment inserted in box 10A, the bag at its top may be turned outward over the flaps l, 2, 3 and 4 and a top 17 similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the previous embodiment may be placed over the flaps 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the top, locking the bag in a retained position. Referring to FIG. 14, the complete container is illustrated for normal use. The container will be used until the box 10A is filled or at any time desired, it may be disposed of by removing the top 17 and if desirable, gathering the top of the bag 16 and tying it to seal and prevent the escape of odors and the top lids l, 2, 3 and 4 may be turned inward and in a locked relation as described for the bottom thus making the box 10A completely closed and ready for disposal.

In view of the fact that although corrugated boxes are by far the greater proportion of containers of this type, there is a growing use of a barrel-shaped container which may be corrugated cardboard or a similar pressed board formation. The barrel is becoming more popular as the standard refuse container. Therefore FIG. 16 illustrates a barrel-shaped container 10B which may be of corrugated cardboard and the top illustrated in FIG. 5 of the previous embodiment is similar to the top illustrated in FIG. 17 except that the base 18A is circular in form. With this embodiment, the barrel-shaped container 10B and lid 30 (FIG. 18) must be provided as fonned and the top 18A is utilized by removing lid 30 the same as in the previous embodiment, and that is, a plastic bag insert 16 is used and the top 17A is mounted to retain the plastic bag 16 within the barrel-shaped container. When the container is full, the top 17A is removed and the bag 16 may be tied at the top and the plain cardboard lid 30 may be inserted in the same fashion as the bottom 10C into the barrel-shaped container 108 for disposal of the container.

Although we have described the barrel 10B of FIG. 16 as a barrel meaning a circular form, it is not a fonn that is easily packed, therefore the manufacturers are prone to construct this type of package or container as a many-sided box, so that the barrel formation may be joined at one end, actually comprising a plurality of flat sides 10D as illustrated in FIG. 19. This type of barrel may be shipped perfectly flat and when it is to be used, it is simply opened and formed and stapled as illustrated in FIG. 19 and a top and bottom lid are provided with the same configuration and the barrel sides may be provided with apertures as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and the top and bottom may be provided with tabs as illustrated in the previous embodiment. Thus this type of container is identical to the previously described embodiment except that it is many sided.

Although we have described the container of this invention as a throwaway container and being a throwaway container, we have chosen the cheapest material that has sufficient structural strength and is easily formed or folded to provide additional strength as required, namely corrugated cardboard of any desirable strength, however other materials are being produced that are gradually being reduced in cost due to larger production. Thus there are combinations of fibers and there are plastic materials that may be similarly used for the construction of this device without departing from the spirit of this invention. As has already been stated, the material such as corrugated cardboard, may be sprayed where desired to produce an impervious surface, mostly the exterior, to permit storage and use without harm from the elements. And, although a plastic bag has been recommended to be inserted in each container, the container may be used in many cases without the plastic bag where the contents are not of a fluid of humid nature. Although various types of known containers may be used, the corrugated cardboard containers require certain types of formations to provide flat shipment of the product and easy formation into a container. However other materials may change the actual formation permitting a similar flat formation of a container with slightly diflerent locking means to retain the container in the form desired such as the containers illustrated in the previous embodiment. The containers may, in the cheapest form, have a standard finish as most corrugated cardboard does, however in specialized forms, the containers may be provided with different colors by treating the cardboard in advance or the containers may be decorated with decals or designs to enhance their decorative appearance without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The invention described in detail in the foregoing specification is subject to changes and modifications without departing from the principal and spirit thereof. The terminology used is for purposes of description and not of limitation; the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

I. A disposable refuse holder comprised of a hollow body with two openable ends, a preformed integral attached bottom in one end and a preformed integral attached top in the other end, said hollow body formed from a flat sheet of foldable material having preformed folds to lay flat when unfolded and to form a hollow body with closable ends when folded, an auxiliary top fitted to said hollow body over an unfolded end and said auxiliary top provided with a central pivotal rod and a lid that will hang in a closed position on said rod but will swing open when pushed and will swing closed when released in use, said auxiliary top removed before disposal of the refuse holder and said preformed top folded to close the open end of said refuse holder for disposal.

2. In a device according to claim I in which a plastic bag is inserted in said hollow body and the upper portion of said plastic bag is folded back over the open top end, said auxiliary top fitted over said upper open portion of said plastic bag and the open top end of said hollow body to retain said bag upright in said refuse holder during use, said auxiliary top removable and the top of said plastic bag tucked into said hollow body, and said preformed top folded to close said refuse holder for disposal of the entire refuse holder.

3. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are round.

4. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are multisided.

5. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of flat composition fiberboard.

6. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of corrugated cardboard.

7. In a device according to claim I in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of foldable plastic sheet.

8. In a device according to claim I in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of sheet metal.

9. In a device according to claim 1 in which the top and bottom of said disposable refuse container are single panels with locking means to lock said top and bottom to said hollow body.

10. In a device according to claim 1 in which the top and bottom of said disposable refuse container are a plurality of foldable panels. 

1. A disposable refuse holder comprised of a hollow body with two openable ends, a preformed integral attached bottom in one end and a preformed integral attached top in the other end, said hollow body formed from a flat sheet of foldable material having preformed folds to lay flat when unfolded and to form a hollow body with closable ends when folded, an auxiliary top fitted to said hollow body over an unfolded end and said auxiliary top provided with a central pivotal rod and a lid that will hang in a closed position on said rod but will swing open when pushed and will swing closed when released in use, said auxiliary top removed before disposal of the refuse holder and said preformed top folded to close the open end of said refuse holder for disposal.
 2. In a device according to claim 1 in which a plastic bag is inserted in said hollow body and the upper portion of said plastic bag is folded back over the open top end, said auxiliary top fitted over said upper open portion of said plastic bag and the open top end of said hollow body to retain said bag upright in said refuse holder during use, said auxiliary top removable and the top of said plastic bag tucked into said hollow body, and said preformed top folded to close said refuse holder for disposal of the entire refuse holder.
 3. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are round.
 4. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are multisided.
 5. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of flat composition fiberboard.
 6. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of corrugated cardboard.
 7. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of foldable plastic sheet.
 8. In a device according to claim 1 in which said disposable refuse container, top and bottom are composed of sheet metal.
 9. In a device according to claim 1 in which the top and bottom of said disposable refuse container are single panels with locking means to lock said top and bottom to said hollow body.
 10. In a device according to claim 1 in which the top and bottom of said disposable refuse container are a plurality of foldable panels. 